Big Kid Adds (Week 22)

Jim Rassol-Imagn Images

While the NFBC Main Event garners most of the attention, there are a handful of leagues with even larger entry fees ($2.5K to $15K). They are named “High Stakes Leagues,” and there are eleven of them. With so much money on the line, these fantasy managers try to gain any advantage. Most of the time, these managers will be a week or two ahead of everyone else on their adds. Here are the players and some information on the ones added in five or more leagues.

Batters

Samuel Basallo (10): The hype surrounding Basallo has been high since he signed his new contract. I had some issues about how he’d transition to the majors, especially his playing time. It seems like all prospects need an adjustment period, and the season would be over before he had time to get going. He seems to be going through that adjustment period with a 40 wRC+. At least he’s making contact (16% K%).

The playing time has resolved with Adley Rutschman on the IL. Basallo started in eight of the last 10 games (5 C, 2 DH, 1 1B)

Carson Williams (10): I didn’t have faith in Williams because of his 34% K% in AAA. He showed some improvement before his promotion with a 31% K% since July 1st and a 29% K% before August 1st.

Jeremiah Jackson (9): Jackson was starting off and on since the trade deadline and became a regular over the past week. He’s now started in seven straight games while hitting second. In the majors this season, he’s batting .324/.342/.459 with 1 HR and 0 SB (2 CS) in 76 PA.

He provides some power, speed, and average, but doesn’t stand out in any one category. His Steamer600 comps point out some decent comps when getting everyday at-bats.

The one negative in his profile is that he rarely walks. In the minors this season, he had a 4% BB% and a 3% BB% in the majors. So far in the bigs, he’s been able to keep his on-base rate over .300 with a .404 BABIP.

With many outfielders getting platooned, Jackson seems to be an everyday player and a reasonable injury sub.

Kyle Teel (7): Even with several decent catchers popping up this year, Teel became a quick add once he started getting starts as the DH. While not providing much power (4 HR) or speed (2 SB), he’s great at getting on base (.295 AVG, .382 OBP).

Nathaniel Lowe (6): Strong-side platoon bat who got released by the Nationals. Zero expectations may be too high for him.

Luis Matos (6): Now has seven straight starts in right field and is on fire since his last promotion (1.207 OPS, 2 HR, 2 SB). While his production has been up and down during his career, he’s in his best seven-game stretch.

A reasonable add based on the playing time and potential breakout.

Gavin Sheets (6): With Jackson Merrill on the IL, Sheets has started in nine straight games, including one against a lefty starter. I found him the most interesting as a first base replacement.

Javier Sanoja (6): Made four straight starts going into the weekend, but just one start in four games since Sunday. So far this season, he’s hit .246/.289/.393 with 5 HR and 4 SB in 277 PA. There is nothing in his profile I can get excited about.

Jared Triolo (5): The Pirates have a nice schedule this week (seven games, week pitching), so Triolo forced himself on some radars. He’s been fine this year (5 HR, 9 SB, .220 AVG) while being qualified at all four infield positions. Additionally, he started in 21 of the last 22 games.

Gabriel Moreno (5): Off the IL and back to being added in two-catcher formats.

Starting Pitchers

Shane Bieber (11): Bieber is universally rostered in all competitive leagues. I still find the process of adding him to interesting. I’ve had several offline discussions about Bieber and have way too much information about his NFBC adds and drops for this year’s The Process.

In the NFBC Main Event, Shane Bieber was drafted in 14 of the 57 leagues and dropped at least once in each league. In those 14 leagues, he was added for an average of $15 with a $3 backup. In the leagues where he was available tonight, he went on average for $95 with a $50 backup.

— Jeff Zimmerman (@jeffwzimmerman.bsky.social) 2025-08-25T03:50:29.307Z

In the NFBC, an undrafted player can’t be added until they appear in a major league game that season. So with pitchers coming back later in the season like Bieber and Kyle Bradish, it might be prudent to draft them with a team’s last-round pick and immediately drop them. The hope is that the other teams forget about the move or have already dropped out, so they don’t remember or care. I think going for players coming off the IL around the trade deadline would be ideal.

As for Bieber, any chance he reverts to his old dominant self has to be considered, and his debut (0 ER and 9 K in 6 IP) cemented him onto rosters.

Parker Messick (10): In two starts so far, he’s been amazing with a 0.66 ERA (2.48 xFIP), 7.9 K/9, and 0.88 WHIP (0.7 BB/9). The walks are the biggest surprise since he had a 3.8 BB/9 in AAA. His 33% Ball% would normally lead to a 2.2 BB/9, so upward regression should be expected.

The STUPH metrics love him with a 2.76 botERA and 121 Pitching+. On the results side, his changeup (22% usage) is his best pitch with a 26% SwStr% and 60% GB%.

I’m not too worried about him hitting an innings limit. He threw 133 IP last season, and he’s at a combined 112 IP this year.

Johan Oviedo (10): As we near the season’s end, all suspect two-start pitchers get added. In his first start of the week, Oviedo threw 4 IP with 5 K, 1 ER, and 1 BB. Right now, his biggest drawback is that the Pirates don’t let him go deep into games. He’s averaged 57 pitches per start so far (53 pitches in his last start).

As for his talent, his average fastball velocity (95.1 mph) is similar to previous seasons (career 95.6 mph). As for his pitch mix, he’s leaning into his fastballs more (44% to 51%) but nothing else. He’s never had great control (career 4.3 BB/9), and he has a 4.5 BB/9 this year. The STUPH metrics put him with average Stuff but horrible command, making his overall grades below average. The strikeouts are high because his secondaries are missing a ton of bats with his slider at a 23% SwStr% and curve at 22% SwStr%.

If a fantasy team only needs strikeouts, Oviedo might be a decent option.

Richard Fitts (7): Placed on the IL right after FAAB ran. Sucks for the teams that added him.

Ian Seymour (6): After 12 relief appearances, the 26-year-old got his first start, where he owned Cleveland (5 IP, 8 K, 0 ER, 0 BB). Neither his velocity nor pitch mix changed compared to when he was a reliever. It’ll be interesting to see if he maintains the bullpen velocity (most pitchers making the transition don’t).

He fades his fastball, with his changeup being the most thrown of his five pitches. While the change generates the best results (16% SwStr%), all his pitches have at least a 10% SwStr%. The swing-and-miss is a little surprising with his fastballs at 92 mph.

Martín Pérez (6): Another suspect arm (4.39 xFIP) with two scheduled starts. In the first start, he dominated the Royals with five shutout innings, including five strikeouts.

I don’t buy the 2.02 ERA and 0.95 WHIP. Currently, his 0.3 HR/9 and .217 BABIP will regress upward. Additionally, his fastball comes in at 89-mph. His only above-average pitch is his changeup (17% SwStr%). The STUPH metrics hate him (5.52 botERA, 85 Pitching+).

He’s on a hot streak; I’m not sure how long it’ll last.

Luis Morales (5): The poster child for luck with his 1.19 ERA with a 0.4 HR/9 (30% GB%), .200 BABIP, and 92% LOB%. Besides the eventual regression (right … like sometime … right), the 4.00 BB/9 could become a major issue.

I feel he could blow up at any time.

Ryan Gusto (5): In Miami’s rotation but is struggling this year (5.67 ERA, 4.60 xFIP, 1.47 WHIP, 8.6 K/9). While his last start pushed up those numbers (9 ER, 5 BB, 3 HR, and 2 K in 3.2 IP), he was struggling for that disaster (5.05 ERA, 4.38 xFIP).

Relievers

Andrew Saalfrank (7): Appears to be the closer in Arizona. Only has a 6.3 K/9, so he might not keep the job for very long.

Ryan Walker (7): With Randy Rodríguez headed to the IL, Walker has taken over the closer duties with 2 Saves and 1 Win over the last week.